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Details:

Distinctly superior by name and nature, Courage Directors was originally brewed exclusively for the directors of the Alton brewery until demand decreed this most distinguished of beverages was also made available to the rank and file. A good job too. The ruling class knew just what they were doing when they tried to keep this classic ale to themselves.

Details

A rich, chestnut hued, full-bodied brew boasting a clean, bitter taste balanced with burnt, orange peel notes and a dry-hop aroma and flavour.
Distinctly superior by name and nature, Courage Directors was originally brewed exclusively for the directors of the Alton brewery until demand decreed this most distinguished of beverages was also made available to the rank and file. A good job too. The ruling class knew just what they were doing when they tried to keep this classic ale to themselves.
ABV approx 4.8% 36 Pints

The simple answer to this is to add more sugar. The yeast eats the sugar and that produces more alcohol. Most brewers will use dry malt extract as their sugar source because it will add more alcohol to the beer, but doesn't add a lot of sweetness to the beer like table sugar will. Keep in mind the yeast can only handle so much alcohol, so be careful on how much DME you add.

As the alcohol level rises in the wort, the fermentation begins to slow down. Adding yeast nutrients to the wort can give the yeast new food allowing for an extended fermentation period. Yeast nutrient also helps to create stronger cell walls, which make yeast less susceptible to alcohol death. Another way to increase the alcohol level in the beer is to add yeast with a higher alcohol tolerance towards the end of fermentation.

Extract brewing uses the same basic techniques as kits but you prepare the wort from ingredients rather then using kit concentrate. Water, malt extract and hops are boiled for approx 1 hour before cooling then adding yeast as above. This method requires a large pan (10 litre minimum) and strainer in addition to the basic equipment required for kits. You choose and buy packs of extract, hops and yeast then follow a recipe. There are lots of different recipes to follow and you can add herbs and spices to create unique blends. There is also a huge range of hops which all have there own unique flavour. This method works out about the same cost as using a Premium kit but you have the flavour control and satisfaction of creating your own recipes. We have a constantly expanding range of extract recipe packs to make things easy and get you going.

Extra sugar may be required dependant on the kit. In general the cheaper single can kits require 1 kg of brewing sugar and the more expensive boxed kits don't require additional brewing sugar. Malt extract (spraymalt) can be used instead of sugar at the same rate and will give the beer more body and a rounder mouth feel.

All kits will require a small amount of priming sugar (around 80-120g) for priming the bottles/barrel, which will give the beer a slight carbonation but any sugar can be used for this.

Once the wort (unfermented beer) has been made up as per the instructions (most kits take around 15 minutes) yeast is added and the fermentation takes place. There are many factors which will effect the time this takes, temperature, amount of sugars which need fermenting (ie strength of the beer) and type of yeast but you can expect most fermentations to be complete between 7 - 14 days.

Once fermentation is complete then the beer is ready to be stored in bottles or barrel and a small amount of sugar is added (known as priming) which will then ferment again but this time the Co2 produced cannot escape and will dissolve in the beer giving the beer a slight carbonation.

Then the beer is left to clear. Again the time this takes will depend on quite a few factors - type of yeast, temperature (cooler the better) and type of container to name a few but you can expect the beer to be clear and ready to drink with a few weeks (4 - 6) and the beer will continue to mature and improve for a few months after this.

1. Adding too much water. If you have added the correct amount of water then this will not be the problem.

2. Not stiring after adding all the water. This will leave all the sugars at the bottom of the fermenter which will cause the gravity to be low at the top.

3. Measuring the gravity when the pre fermented wort is too cool. Hydrometers are calibrated at a set temp, usually 20c so if you measure the gravity and the wort is cooler or hotter than this then this will effect the result as liquids become less dense at warmer temperatures.

Its more than likely that one of these is the cause. If you still have issues after checking the above then please give contact us.

Hi there, Old Speckled Hen is a extract recipe pack so you will need a large pan (10 litres min) and a strainer. You will also need basic brewing equipment such as fermenter, syphon, hydrometer and steriliser.

All you need to determine alcohol content is the original or starting gravity and the final gravity. Just drop the decimal points, subtract the smaller one from the bigger, and divide by 7.5. For example, If your starting gravity is 1.055, and your final gravity is 1.010, you would have 1.055 - 1.010 = 45 divided by 7.5 = 6% alcohol.

Dry hopping is the process of adding hops, usually in secondary, to a beer to add more of a hop aroma to your beer. Traditionally the technique is used for beer styles like pale ales and I.P.A.’s, but people are doing this process in many other styles as well. You aren’t extracting any of the oils from the hops because you would need to add heat to do that, but you are adding aroma. Being that almost 75% of human taste comes from smell, then you can see why people take this extra step with their beers.

Dry hopping methods vary, so find which way gives you the best results:

We prefer to add the dry hops with 3-5 days left before you plan on bottling, or kegging, the beer. The reason for this is because the idea is to have the hop aroma infuse with the beer without having the aroma fade. By adding the hops only a few days before bottling, you get the freshest hop aroma throughout your beer without much loss of taste.

What type of hops are the best for dry hopping?

Most of us prefer the use of leaf hops, as they are easier to deal with when you transfer, but pellet hops will work as well. As far as the type of hops itself, that is up to you. Most brewers will use the same type of hops that they used in making the beer and many modern ales use American citrus style hops like Amarillo and Cascade for interesting aroma additions.

Be careful of the quantity of hops that you use because you can easily overpower a beer by using too much. Also avoid leaving the hops in the beer for too long as grassy flavours can develop. Usually, around 25g - 50g is all you need. Start with 25g, and then see if you need to add more the next time.

It really depends on the region you live in as tap water quality will vary locally. If it taste/smells nice then its probably fine to use. Adding 1/2 a crushed campden tablet / 25 litres of water will remove any chlorine from the water which can help improve taste.

Alternatively most supermarkets offer own brand bottled water in 5 litre containers at a very reasonable price.

When the beer starts to ferment a thick foam will normally form on the top. This is quite normal and will protect the beer during fermentation. This should form within 24 hrs of the yeast being added. If nothing has happened within this time you may need to check the temperature of the room as it may be too cold. If the temperture is okay, leave for a bit more time. If nothing has happened after 48 hours then you may need to add yeast nutrient but have patience before taking this step.

The foam should die down after a couple of days, after which you should take a hydrometer reading. Bottle or barrel when the hydrometer readings have remained stable for a couple of days.

Need to know - Delivery

Please enter your postcode at the checkout to ensure that we charge the correct amount towards postage and packing. We aim to despatch all orders within 24 hours, by our dedicated team of packers, and sent by courier on a 24 hour service. All orders are packed with care using air bags and bubble wrap where appropriate. In the unfortunate event that your order is damaged during transit we will replace all damaged items without quibble, including glass items, just send us a photo of the damaged items within 3 days of recieving delivery.

Please note that we only process orders Monday - Friday and therefore bank holidays can cause slight delays in despatch so please be patient at these times. There can also be a slight delay during extremely busy periods especially in the run up to Christmas but most orders will be despatched within a few days.

A signature is required for delivery and the courier will not leave your parcel unless it has been signed for. If you are not in an advice card will be left and your parcel will be taken to your local post office or depot. An alternative, work, address can be entered at the checkout. Use this function for sending your parcel as a present. Please contact us if you wish to send your goods as a present and we will be happy to include a personal message in the contents. This will not delay your order. We cannot accept orders to BFPO addresses.

Customer Reviews

On the odd occasion I used to drink this beer in the pub a good ten years ago . Honestly, this tastes nothing like it. Much less body, different colour. Alot less head. Different colour head. Now get this, I prefer my Brewuk home brew version to the Directors I drank years ago in the pub. This is a much cleaner taste. Less like a Sunday meat dinner.
Now, I'm new to brewing beer kits and I am drinking this too early too. So take this into consideration. Would I buy this from Brewuk again? YES. Would I drink it again. YES. Would I offer it to friends? No! It's MINE!!!! :-)

This is a superb kit that if the instructions are followed exactly will produce a beer that is really close to pub Directors, and yes as Bully says, even better. I've given bottles to my friends and relatives and none of them believe it's homebrew. Second only to Burton Bridge. Well done Muntons and Wells and Young.

I have just ordered a second kit having done one earlier this year. It is full flavoured and I think one suited to the winter months. I have a note that I did boil although think it is a no boil kit, it did make a nice clear chestnut coloured ale.

There's a little sachet of hop powder included in the kit but the instructions don't mention when to add but luckily the sachet says add contents before yeast which seems to have worked fine. Starting Gravity was an encouraging 1048:-) 14 days at 20 degrees led to an F.G. of 1013, more than twice as loing as the 4-6 days implied by the instructions. Bottled and left in a warm place for 3 days per the instructions and then in the garage for another 14 days. The result was a surprisingly Directors flavour beer that looks just like the real thing. Excellent frothy but not-too-much head. Another couple of weeks now and it's delightfully drinkable and moreish, as it should be. What a marvelous pint!